Erica Popp, Education Manager (now Quality Improvement Manager), Occupational Therapy

An “Agent of Change” Who Provides Education and Support

As the manager of education for VNSNY’s CHHA clinicians, Erica Popp was part of a team that designed and implemented orientation training for new clinician hires and also conducted ongoing education and training for VNSNY’s current OT staff. “I’ve been with VNSNY for eight years, and was in the field as an OT for five years before I transitioned to my current education role,” she says. “I draw on my clinical experience to try and keep things relatable to the day-to-day operations of the field clinicians’ work, which includes respecting their time and their dedication to their patients.”

Erica’s role included assisting the OT staff in the recent rollout of VNSNY’s new electronic medical record (EMR) system, HomeCare HomeBase. The new system has a lot of built-in features that will ultimately save a lot of time, but, like all major changes, it’s involved a considerable learning curve. “Instead of getting frustrated, I put on my patience hat and encourage everyone to keep asking questions—and to stay mindful of the short-term pain, long-term gain aspect,” Erica says. “It’s about taking a deep breath and remembering how hard it is to change old behaviors.” In a way, she adds, helping VNSNY’s clincians learn a new software system is similar to how OTs motivate their own patients in the field: “If you do the work now, it will pay off in the end.”

“Erica embodies leadership skills as well as encouraging others to reach their best potential,” her colleagues noted in nominating her for the ESPRIT award. “She is very organized, detail oriented and reliable, and is a powerhouse when it comes to engaging our team and helping to identify people’s strengths.”

“I see myself as an agent of change,” says Erica. “Whether you’re teaching something new or addressing things that are being done incorrectly, you have to be patient, adaptable, understanding, and emotionally intelligent. People turn to me and my team to help them learn. I’m thankful every day that I can affect someone or something positively. Even the tiniest things can make a big difference.”